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Saturday, 22 June 2013

RIP James Gandolfini

Like many, I was shocked to hear about the passing of 51 year old American actor James Gandolfini this week from a heart attack.

As Tony Soprano - his most famous role - he was indomitable with a charmed spirit that (series finale aside) seemed destined to live forever.

I first saw James Gandolfini in True Romance, in a chilling and violent role (he later noted that he based his performance on a hitman friend...as you do). At the time, if you told me that I would fanatically tune in week after week to watch *that* actor in a nuanced and considered role - let alone develop an attraction for him - I would have laughed derisively at you as he was clearly a thug and nothing more!!

It´s a mark of his talents - not only that Tony Soprano has become one of the small screens most iconic characters - but that he starred in such a variety of roles so convincingly from Mafiosa boss, gay ganster and violent thug to mayor of New York, teddy bear father figure and CIA director. Versatile, he worked on the stage, small and silver screen and had also turned his hand to documentaries and production.